Standards are a normal part of society. If you get a new job, you will have to agree to their standards of attendance, dress, and performance. If you go eat in a restaurant, you will have to follow their standards of how they seat you, how you order, payment methods, and so forth. Every single element of society is permeated with standards.
Why shouldn’t our homes be the same?
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What are Standards?
Standards in the Christian home are simply rules that help us follow the doctrines in the Bible. Doctrines are the foundational truths of God’s Word. We need to study God’s Word so that we know how to be obedient. There is doctrine concerning marriage, the Holy Spirit, salvation, prayer, and a host of other topics. We should try to learn and follow every doctrine in the Word of God. It is the guidebook for our life.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. II Timothy 3:16-17
Where Do Standards Come into Play?
Standards protect us from the influence of the world. They are tools to help us be Godly and stay away from sin. Without standards, it may be harder to follow Biblical doctrine. Standards may vary for each person, while Biblical doctrine is constant and unchanging.
Standards also give us direction and goals in our lives. When our kids were born we began to apply standards to our lives that we felt would produce Godly children who loved the Lord and His Word with all their hearts. One directional standard that we applied was homeschooling our kids. We felt like this standard was most likely to produce adults who were devoted to Jesus and productive members of society. Homeschooling is a personal standard based on Biblical doctrine concerning raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
You don’t just wake up one day and have Christian children. Raising Christian kids does not happen by chance. It requires a plan and goals based solely in God’s Word, and lots of prayer.
Chronological Bible Studies for Kids: Why They Matter and How to Start
Examples of Standards in the Christian Home
Prayer
We can look at God’s Word and know that we should pray. There are not a lot of specifics concerning prayer just that we should do it and have a humble spirit. I think we have all had days where we get to the end of the day and think, “Have I even talked to the Lord today?” My personal standard is to make sure that I pray as soon as I wake in the morning. It sets my focus on the Lord, and helps me continue to walk in His ways throughout the day. This standard helps me obey the doctrine of prayer found in the Bible.
We pray each night as a family with our kids. It comforts them and helps them sleep. It is the best way to end our day. If we forget, our youngest will usually remind us because it is a comfort to her. Your standards may be different. You may pray at different times. Daniel prayed 3 times a day, on his knees. Every person is different.
Music
We set standards for our family concerning music. These standards help us grow in the Lord and not be conformed to the world. Music is a huge influence in our lives, and impacts our daily decisions. Satan often gets a foothold in our minds by the things we let in. I have a personal testimony concerning music and how it influenced my decisions as a young person. So in our family, we want to choose music that:
- Keeps our mind focused on the Lord (Col. 3:2)
- Keeps our mind on the right things (Phil. 4:8)
- Helps us walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16)
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph. 5:19
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Mark 14:26 (Jesus & his disciples after the Lord's Supper)
The standards for music in our home include listening and singing good doctrinally sound hymns. We also listen to southern gospel music that meets that same qualification. We try to avoid songs that have useless repetitive lines with no meaning. We try to avoid songs that have similar musical patterns to those ungodly songs heard in the world. Most of all, we want to feed our Spirit. Whatever we feed is what controls our life. If we feed the flesh, the flesh will take over. With these thoughts in mind, we set our standards.
Let me add, there is a line where music can become sinful. Many songs glorify things mentioned in these verses. Standards keep us far from that line of sin.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:28-32
5 Bible Memory Strategies (memory box details)
Take Action
- Teach children foundational Bible doctrine. Make it of utmost importance. Learn more about Bible study for kids here.
- Talk to them about the relationship between doctrine and standards, and why you have certain standards in place in the home.
- Help them understand not everyone has the same standards, and we should be careful about being critical of others.
- Teach teens the importance of setting standards in every area of their life. Why? To help them avoid sin and making decisions they will regret later in life.
Are there areas in your life where the influence of the world is stronger than the influence of God’s Word? How can you adjust your standards to better align with the truth?
<>Share this post with friends who might be considering setting standards in their homes.
<>If you’re not sure where to start, leave a comment below, and we can help you brainstorm practical steps to implement Biblical standards in your life.
Favorite Verses in Psalm to Memorize
